RAMSTEIN, Germany – NATO's Air Policing mission stands as a cornerstone of the Alliance's commitment to maintaining the integrity and security of the airspace over its member nations. This collective defence initiative ensures that even member countries without their own air defence capabilities are protected under NATO's unified command.
Air Policing is an extremely delicate mission
Allied nations contribute to Air Policing along NATO’s eastern flank. Italy and France are currently deployed in Lithuania, the Netherlands in Estonia, and Spain in Romania. These deployments maintain a continuous 24/7 Air Policing presence within the Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR's) area of responsibility.
Achieving a milestone of 1,300 operational flight hours, the Italian Air Force has completed over 40 "Alpha Scrambles," intercepting more than 60 unidentified aircraft. Photo courtesy of the Italian Air Force.
Spain's detachment has played a pivotal role in reinforcing NATO's eastern flank in Romania alongside Romanian Air Force F-16s on the Black Sea coast. Photo courtesy of the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Currently air policing with the Italian detachment at Šiauliai, Lithuania, France has been a consistent and robust contributor to NATO's Air Policing. Photo courtesy of the French Air and Space Force.
Dutch F-35s have executed approximately ten Alpha Scrambles, successfully identifying nearly 20 aircraft, including transport jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and electronic intelligence platforms Photo courtesy of The Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Italian contribution: A Decade of Commitment in the Baltic Skies
Deployed at Šiauliai airport in Lithuania since August 2024, Italy's Task Force Air 36th Wing, equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, have been a committed contributor to NATO's Air Policing mission. Achieving a milestone of 1,300 operational flight hours, the unit has completed over 40 "Alpha Scrambles," intercepting more than 60 unidentified aircraft.
During a joint exercise event, and for the first time in the Baltics, Italy deployed a SAMP-T Task Group from the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command (COMACA) at the Šiauliai base, under the direct control of Task Force Air (TFA) 36th Wing, 2025 marks a monumental 10-year milestone for Italy; completing their first Baltic Air Policing mission in 2015, when deployed with four Eurofighter Typhoons from Lithuania. They have continued to support the Baltic Air Policing with a further nine rotations, from Air bases in Lithuania, Estonia and Poland.
A decade of commitment and dedication has ensured the safety of the Baltic skies within the NATO context. Italian jets have also supported Air Policing from Malbork, Poland, initially with F-35s and later with the Eurofighter. Colonel Roberto Massarotto, Task Force Wing Commander, emphasized: "Air Policing is an extremely delicate mission that is conducted by responding to 100% of activations without critical issues thanks to the professionalism and competence not only of our pilots, but of all the women and men of the Task Force."
French contribution: A Consistent and Robust Presence
Currently air policing with the Italian detachment at Šiauliai, Lithuania, France has been a consistent and robust contributor to NATO's Air Policing. The French Air and Space Force has participated in the Baltic Air Policing mission on multiple occasions, first deploying advanced fighter jets to safeguard the airspace over the Baltic states in December 2024. French Rafale fighters have supported NATO’s mission from Lithuania a total of eight times, the current rotation operating alongside the Italian Eurofighters provides a robust air defence presence that demonstrates solidarity and support for the Baltic States.
The additional detachment at Šiauliai allows for more flexible operational planning of NATO Air Policing in the region. The deployed Allies benefit from additional opportunities to conduct training with other regional air, ground, naval, and special forces and to practice Agile Combat Employment concepts, further enhancing the skills, interoperability, and resilience of our air forces.
The deputy spokesperson for the French Chief of Defence highlighted: “By deploying fighter jets to Lithuania, France reaffirms its commitment to Nato Air Policing missions and its determination to protect and defend European airspace”
During the detachment the French forces have routinely intercepted military aircraft failing to conform with international aviation regulations, they have executed around ten A-scrambles since their arrival and more than two hundreds training flights have been achieved alongside with Allies.
The Dutch contribution: Fifth-Generation Capabilities in Estonia
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), deployed at Ämari airbase in Estonia, has been actively engaged in NATO's Air Policing efforts, particularly in the Baltic region. During the current deployment, Dutch F-35s have executed approximately ten Alpha Scrambles, successfully identifying nearly 20 aircraft, including transport jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and electronic intelligence platforms which were not adhering to standard safety procedures.
Beyond interception missions, the RNLAF has participated in a number of activities and training exercises to enhance interoperability. Notably, Exercise Pikne; Dutch air units collaborated with Estonian and French ground troops, maritime assets from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), and the recent training mission where the F-35 landed at Lielvarde, Latvia demonstrating the agility of the force. They also participated in a training event based on NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept. In this event, Estonian Air Force specialists participated in preparing the Dutch fifth-generation fighter jets further enhancing rapid combat readiness.
“The F-35 is a 5th generation fighter that belongs to NATO’s most advanced and capable platforms. By deploying the F-35s at the eastern flank, The Netherlands contributes towards credible military deterrence towards Russia.” Said Lieutenant Colonel ‘Swinger’, RNLAF detachment commander, “In the past months, our jets have proven their capabilities, and we successfully conducted our mission: securing the Baltic airspace together with our allies” he added.
The Spanish contribution: Reinforcing the Eastern Flank in Romania
Since December 2024, Spain's detachment, codename PAZNIC, has played a pivotal role in reinforcing NATO's eastern flank in Romania. Six Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Albacete have enhanced the surveillance and defence of NATO airspace alongside Romanian Air Force F-16s on the Black Sea coast. The Spanish jets arrived in Romania in August 2024, the F-18s were initially tasked with safeguarding the skies and in December, 2024 they were relieved in place by the Eurofighter jets.
In late January, the detachment's capabilities were further augmented with the addition of an A400 aircraft from Zaragoza. This expansion introduced air-to-air refueling capabilities, extending the operational range and endurance of the fighters.
The detachment has also engaged in both air-to-air and air-to-ground training missions, collaborating closely with NATO allies, including France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
A notable operational highlight occurred in February, when the PAZNIC detachment's alert aircraft were scrambled in response to a drone attack on the Ukrainian town of Reni. The swift and decisive response underscored the detachment's readiness to address real-world threats.
The air bases in Šiauliai, Lithuania, Ämari, Estonia and Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu, play a key strategic role in NATO’s Air Policing, these highly sophisticated hubs where Allies combine their high-end capabilities under the Integrated Air and Missile Defence System.
With the posture of Italian, French, Dutch, and Spanish fighter jets, NATO has a robust air capability in place that sends a clear signal to potential adversaries of the Allies’ collective readiness and commitment to preserving territorial integrity.